Tears burned in Claire’s eyes. “You helped him.”
“I was seventeen. Following my cousin. Learning.” Derek’s smile was cold. “But then you fought back and he was stupid, so stupid. He should have taken you both, but he didn’t, not realizing you had his DNA under your nails. I was long gone by the time the cops came for him, but how sad he had to die, all because of you.”
“He deserved to die.”
“He chose death over prison. But that night when he killed Lily, he made me promise him something.” Derek moved to crouch in front of her, twirling the knife handle in his palm. “Find Claire. Make her pay. Finish what we started.”
The knife traced her cheek. Not cutting—just reminding her how easily it could.
“So I changed my name,” Derek continued. “Got clean. Joined the Navy. Learned skills. Got a job at the FBI after I tracked you down. And I waited. Watched. Planned.” He stood, rubbed a strand of her hair between his fingers and thumb. “Five years, Claire. Five years of being patient. And now, finally, I get to keep my promise to Collin.”
Through the window, Claire could see nothing. No sign of Wolf or the team. No sign of rescue. There was no noise on the comm, either.
There was only Derek, the knife, Vivi’s terrified eyes, and the knowledge that time was almost up. The police station was about to explode. Had everyone gotten out?
Derek checked his watch. “Sixty seconds. Are you going to order your team to stand down?”
Claire met his eyes. “You’re going to kill me anyway.”
“True. But their deaths will be on your hands. There’s no way they’ve already gotten everyone out. More people will die because of you.” He gestured to Vivi. “I’m going to kill Dr. Montgomery first, make you watch like Collin planned to make you watch Lily...”
“Don’t,” Claire said, forcing authority into her tone like Wolf always did. Rage boiled in her veins. “Let her go. This is between us. Just you and me.”
“It’s always been between us,” Derek agreed. “But killing is so much fun.”
He moved toward Vivi, knife raised, his back to Claire. She had maybe three seconds before he slit Vivi's throat.
Not again.
The memory hit like a freight train—fourteen years old, hands bound, helpless while Collin Brands hurt Lily. The guilt that had poisoned fifteen years of her life.
But she wasn't that terrified girl anymore. She was a trained, skilled FBI agent. She'd spent all of her life making sure she'd never be helpless again.
And this time, she was going to fight.
This time, she would save an innocent person.
Claire made her choice.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Garrett crouched in the trees fifty yards from the cabin, every muscle coiled tight, listening to Derek Sullivan confess to murdering Lily.
I was seventeen. Following my cousin. Learning.
His hands clenched on his rifle. Derek had been there. Had convinced Collin to take Lily first. To make Claire watch.
Garrett’s vision went red.
“Commander.” Ian’s voice in his ear, quiet but firm, as if the man knew his thoughts were spiraling. “Stay focused.”
Garrett forced himself to breathe. To think tactically. Hawk was on the ridge, scope trained on the cabin. Ian and Grizzly were positioned east and west. Lynx was in one of the SUVs, coordinating with the Feds and Blackridge PD. Garrett had already heard him place a request for an ambulance.
Because there would be casualties.
And Claire was inside with a monster, zip-tied to a chair, listening to Derek describe how he’d helped murder her best friend.
“Sixty seconds,” Derek’s voice came through Claire’s wire. “Are you going to order your team to stand down?”
